

portion of drafit, in nine cases out of ten, istal«en 

 ty one of the teams llian by the other, and llie or- 

 dinary mode of lianiessini; and worl<in<r, renders 

 the equalization of dralt impossible. This preat 

 desideratum is easily effueted in the manner men- 

 tioned above. — Albany Cull. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER 



FEB. a, is4a. 



FAIJLEOF THE CHICKENCOCKS .-IND THE 



HENS, 

 IHierein some very wise precepts are inculciilcd per- 

 taining to the rifihti and duties of the gentler sex 

 of the poultry yard, and females ge.nkbally. 

 It happened upon ii time, if fables be true, that 

 the fowls in the barnyard of u certain neighbor- 

 hood, became awiiliened to an unusual dej ci; o( 

 interest in all subjects pertaining to their own well 

 bein<T, and tlial of their race in general. 



They gathered into groups, or as men would 

 say, into "conventions," and at these palhsrings 

 they crowed and cackled, and clapped their wings 

 and did all other things in manner and form as 

 such creatures do, when they are deliberating upon 

 matters of moment to their:solves and others. 'I'hings 

 had proceeded thus for a long time, and many plans 

 designed to produce the most happy influence upon 

 the social condition of chickens, and of birds in 

 general, had been devised, and were in process of 

 exxcution, when certain hens got it »ito their iieads, 

 that the part which they acted in public concerns 

 vas not ju!<t so important and imposing as it might 

 be ; and to this opinion agreed certain of the roost- 

 ers. In this state of things, it was agreed that al 

 subsequent gatherings of the chickens, these dis- 

 nflected lions should stand up and participate in 

 the doings of the assembly, just as the roosters 

 had been accustomed to do before; and thus, as 



believed it did to others, very coarse and uncome- 

 ly in them. He said farther, in the third pUce, 

 tliat in the public nieotiugs of tlie fowls, as ll>ey 

 ' were nofenlirely perfect in llieir nature, it oflen 

 occurred that there were some contentions in the 

 best assemblies, about who should speak, and what 

 should be said ; and that sometimes there arose a 

 great degree of. heat in deciding the matter of 

 right; — and just at this point, advancing one of 

 his legs, he displayed quite a respectable spur, 

 which, he said, enabled liim to maintain his rights, 

 and their interests. 'I'hese, he said, they were 

 without ; and allhoagb he hoped never to have oc- 

 casion to use his spurs, (and he was ojjposed to us- 

 ing tlicm except in self-defence,) yet they indicated 

 that when contention existed, as the Creator had 

 furnished him, and other roosters with weapons of 

 defence, and had not given such implements of de- 

 fence to the hens, it was very clear to his mind, 

 that hens were not designed to have any thing to 

 do with scenes of contcniion. He likewise quoted 

 a certain record which all professed to regard as 

 authority in matters of duty, and showod them that 

 the teachings of this record were directly opposed 

 to tlieir present intentions. In conclusion, he add- 

 ed, that if the hens had a desire to control public 

 affuir-s, he would tell them a method by which thoy 

 could have more influence than any other class in 

 the coinmunily of fowls. That was this. The 

 little chicks, he said, were all con^mittej to their 

 charge, for several months of their life. During 

 this period, their minds were just in that slate tliat 

 impressi(;n3 migiit be made, that would influence 

 their conduct in all after life. Now, said he, you 

 can make your influence felt in all al'ter ages ; 

 and the future governors of the barn-yards may be 

 controlled in a great measure by the principles 

 which you inculcated during their minority. Thus 



they said, equality would be promoted, and the ac 



tive wisdom of the roost be brought to bear upon 1 y,n, „,j|| \^a.\ic greater influence than any other 



the subject in hand. An old rooster who was ac- 

 customed to look a good deal into the nature of 

 things, and who was not easily carried awaj' with 

 the new-fangled notions of the younger birds, re- 

 «ionstrate<l against this procedure of these hens, 

 and stated many grave and weighty reasons, show- 

 ing the absurdity and folly of their intentions. Af- 

 ter mounting upon a fence, and clapping his wings^ 

 and crowiii!.', to engage attention, he presented tho 

 oaso something as follows: — In the first place, it 

 was not convenient at all times for the liens to 

 leave the little chickens, to attend to public affairs. 

 It was exceedingly important, he said, that the lit- 

 tle creatures should be attended to, and nature 

 seemed to have devolved that duty upon the hens, 

 and to turn aside from it, to act in a, sphere for 

 which nature had not designed them, ho thought 

 would be "strange and unnatural." In the second 

 place, he said that there were insuperable barriers 

 in their way, which they could never surmount. 

 For instance, their voice was not of that kind which 

 was suitable in addressing public assemblies ; but 

 it was of a mild and sweeter lone, and better 

 adapted to please and interest in the social circle 



class, in determining tho character of public roost 

 ers; And certainly, he added, they might per- 

 ceive that to have the business of forming the 

 oharacler of the governors, and then take- tho field 

 as public chickens themselves, would bo attending 

 to more than their share of public matters. 



The old bird said ho had but a single word to 

 say to those roosters who had fnvored this folly of 

 the hens, and then-he would fly down. It was t.'iis 

 — that it ap|)oaredtn him it would be much moie 

 easy for them to doft" tlieir combs- and their spurs, 

 and to have the flash featheis in their nils pulled 

 out, and thus acoommodale them.«clves to liio ap- 

 pearance and duties ol the hens, than for the hens 

 to assume their nppenrance and duties. 



Whilst this addre.-is was being delivered, it was 

 perceived that the disafiocted hens, and those 

 rooNters who had made common cause with them, 

 turned their eyes askant, and closed their ears 

 against the unanswerable arguments of their coun- 

 sclloi. And no sooner did ho fly down, than one 

 of the most forivard of the biddies flapped her 

 wings, and moved the following resolution: That 

 the crowings and cacklings of tho chiukencocks 



It was true, he said, that hens might crow, and he 



hud heard them attempt it, but it always appeared ""<■• ■^"'"''^'y '"" "' '"'^"' ""'' """ ""=y n^'"'" 



to him a very ridiculous and unnatural business. ''"^"^'^ "'" "=""« °f chickencock, chanticleer, no 



lie added, furthermore, that in public speaking a 

 certain amount of red, or brazen color seemed, to 

 , be necessary about the physiognmny, and this, he 

 • remarked, snmc roosters possessed man uncommon 

 ••.''rgrce, Avhile the hens were enliri'ly without it ; 

 r=nnd ''■ OS he remarked, they ondeaviirerl to assume 

 1 this b«,i.''.cn appearance, it appeared to him, and he 



roostor 6'. C. Temp, .^rfij. 



Great difliculty is frequently experienced when 

 glass is accidentally broken, in removins the old 

 putty. Moisten the putly with nitric or muriatic 

 acid, and it may he removed at once. Strong soap 

 will likewise loosen it in a few hours. 



From the Alliany Culiivaior. 



ON FEEDING APPLES TO STOCK. 



^f|'ssrs. Editors — Permit me to call the atter" 

 tion, through your valuable jmirnal, the Cull ii ate 

 of my brother farmers, to the subject of fecdip*" 

 apples ; and especially of those who have I 

 orcharil.", remote from market, and make cidei 

 them, and ihen perchance sell it at a dollar 

 barrel — as I think I caa ^how. them that they i 

 dispose of '.hem to much better advantage by 

 ing llifin to their cows and swine. Boih are^ 

 ceedlngly fond of them. V am well aware t 

 there o.Nists a great pK'judice against this prac(i( 

 but ei<;lit years' experience warrant me in sayi 

 that it is not supported by fads, and that it is m 

 prejudice. The common opinion is, ih-it app 

 dry up milch cows, and many tliink that tliey i 

 kill tlieui. I have oflen heard farmers relate ii 

 they !n^t a valuable cow or o.\, and how suci 

 noighbor's cows broke into his orchard one nil 

 and he lost a number of them, and those that i 

 not die, neajly or quite lost tlieir milk. Now j 

 same result would have followed had tJie cows 

 to a pile of potatoes or bin of oats. But I 

 confess that I was a believer once myself, and 

 deed came very near losing a very valuable cow, i 

 by eating too many apples, about ten years a 

 It dried up her milk entirely ; thus contirming 

 the arguments against apples; and I assure y 

 was most careful thereafter to keep my cows fi 

 eating th?m. But thanks to a kind and unkni 

 friend in Vermont, who sent me a paper contai 

 his experiments in feeding apples tw milch co 

 which appeared to me so satisfactory that I at oi 

 determined to make a trial of it. I told my hi 

 man whati Intended to do ; he objected strongjj i 

 and advised me not to do it, using the old argo- i 

 ments, &c. But I was determined upon makinf I 

 the trial, and not to be dissuaded from my purpose, i 

 Accordingly I commenced feeding my cows a peck i 

 apiece the first night and agiiin next morning and ! 

 evening; on-the third day I had increased 

 quantity to half ii bushel n.orning and night, 

 this time there was an increase of milk fully 

 third. The fourth and frith days I gave them th 

 pecks apiece, morning and night, but ihcK 

 not a corresponding increase of inifk. I then ga»i 

 them a bushel each. They ate then) the first, 

 cond and third time, but tliere was a decrease 

 then went back to half a bushel, and an increoi 

 of milk followed. This satisfied me that a liiishel 

 twice a (lay was too much, and produced injurioi 

 efi'ects. I regret that I did not follow up the ex| 

 riment with one cow, and note the result. I 

 over two hundred bushels that fall and was vi 

 much pleased with my first experiment. 



And while I was paying strict altention as 

 their efl'ect upon the quantity of milk, I wa! 

 unmindful to note tho quantity of the cream 

 butter, and found that it fully corresponded wil 

 the increased quantily of milk, and that the butltt 

 was of superior quality. The apples were abool 

 three fourths sour and one fourth sweet, ripe, gnl 

 ed fruit; and eight years' experience has lully 

 isfiednie that apples are perfectly ImruileKM; 

 they will not kill cows nor dry their milk any mi 

 than potatoes, pumpkins or grain; but wlicn cal 

 to excess, have an injurious effei-l, dry up ibi 

 milk, and I have no doubt have often killed col 

 I>et Ihem get used to them gradually, and llicr* 

 no danger. It ig the eating to excess that di 

 the mischief. 



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